Is dry ice dangerous?
Dry ice is safe when handled correctly, but it causes frostbite on contact with bare skin and displaces breathable air in an unventilated space. It is solid carbon dioxide at −109°F (−78°C).
Safety
Dry ice safety and handling
Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide at −109°F. It is a routine industrial material and it is safe when handled properly — but the two ways it hurts people, frostbite and displaced air, both happen quietly.
01 — Precautions
Read before handling
Every one of these matters. The last two are the ones people get wrong.
Handling rules
- Dry ice is not to be used or consumed for drinks.
- If you are handling dry ice in your building, your windows must be open.
- Dry ice is carbon dioxide (CO₂) — suffocation hazard in confined or unventilated spaces.
- Dry ice is extremely cold — use tongs or insulated gloves (frostbite risk).
- Do not seal dry ice in a container — pressure buildup can rupture the container.
- Keep out of reach of children and pets.
- Do not touch with bare hands; avoid contact with mouth, skin, or eyes.
02 — Common questions
Dry ice, answered
The questions we get asked on the phone most often.
How should dry ice be stored?
Store dry ice in an insulated cooler that is not airtight, in a ventilated room. Never seal dry ice inside an airtight container — it sublimates into gas continuously, and the pressure will rupture the container.
Can you put dry ice in a drink?
No. Dry ice must never be placed in drinks or consumed. Swallowing a fragment causes severe internal injury, and it is not the same as the food-safe fog effects used commercially.
How should dry ice be transported in a car?
Carry dry ice in the trunk or cargo area, not the passenger cabin, and open the windows. Carbon dioxide accumulating in an enclosed cabin causes drowsiness and, at high concentration, loss of consciousness.
How do you dispose of dry ice?
Leave it in a ventilated room away from people and pets and let it sublimate into the air. Never put dry ice in a sink, a toilet or a drain — the cold will crack the plumbing.
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